You may have heard about Ebates but might not be sure what it is, or how it can help you. I have been using Ebates for a while now so I want to tell you what an amazing program it is and how you can use Ebates to save money quickly and easily. And of course, Ebates is free to use!

Ebates is like having a constant rebate coupon in your pocket, every time you shop online. Over 1200+ stores currently participate with Ebates, and what this means to YOU is a constant opportunity to save money. Say you want to purchase something online at Target. Before going to Target’s website, you would first go to Ebates and see what the current cash back rate is, and if there are any coupons available for use. Today, the Target cash back rate is 3%. To get this deal, you just click the “Shop Now” button, and you will be taken to Target to do you your shopping. Once you purchase your items, Ebates will automatically credit your account with 3% of what you spent to receive as cash back!

Most cash back rewards are credited to your account within 48 hours of shopping. And the best part? Every three months you will automatically receive a check with your earnings. The minimum payout is just $5! If your account has less than $5, your balance just rolls over to the next quarter. Want to receive your check via PayPal instead, that’s okay too – and free!

You will want to sign up for Ebates to see all the stores available, but Ebates should be your first stop online before going anywhere else. They have all the major places such as Target, Walmart, Drugstore.com, then also Hanes, REI, Toys R Us, Dell, Apple, and many, many more.

Coupon Codes on Ebates

Another great way to use Ebates is for coupon codes. Once you sign in, click Coupons from the menu bar and you will now have access to hundreds of online coupons. You can see an example in the image below:

Now… on to the referrals, and of course, winning an iPad!

Refer a friend to Ebates and you EACH receive $5 for a qualified referral. A qualified referral is one who makes a purchase of $20 or more earning cash back. Here’s how this works:

You click my referral link to earn your instant $5 when you sign up for Ebates. That $5 becomes a pending reward…

You shop for something you were already going to purchase, but click through Ebates first to get your cash back savings. When you make your first purchase of $20 or more (such as a few items from Target.com), the $5 referral money changes from pending to now active, and is credited to your Ebates account. I receive the same $5 credit as well (as will you when you refer friends)! Keep shopping through Ebates to save money, but that $5 referral is now a free $5 for you as a Thank You from Ebates! Don’t forget, in addition to the free $5 referral, you also just earned a cash back reward for shopping through Ebates!

To win an iPad (or $500), you refer 50 friends who register with Ebates and become qualified referrals (see steps 1 and 2).

Have you heard about Nielsen HomeScan? As a member of the Homescan Panel, you get a cool nifty little hand-held scanner that allows you to scan the barcode on your purchases. In exchange, you earn points that are redeemable for cool prizes, and entries into their sweepstakes!

Nielsen HomeScan only opens the doors for a limited time – so take advantage of the opportunity and sign up today!